Fusion: Funky Synchronizations

By
Wally Schnalle

Originally published in the December 2011 issue
of DRUM! Magazine

For a groove to get somebody’s head bobbin’ it needs to
be played in focus with solid, steady time. By “in focus” I
mean that all the limbs must synchronize. That way the groove
you’re playing is as strong as it can be. That doesn’t mean
that you have to play computer-perfect sixteenth-notes. They can have
swing or whatever grease you want to put on them. But all limbs should
be agreeing on the timing. And in a lot of young drummers I see problems
arise here when the left hand and right foot need to synchronize. They
tend to create a flam between the two limbs and the groove gets a bit
blurry. These exercises are just a few possibilities but a good place to
start. By playing an alternating sticking ride pattern on the hi-hat all
the e’s and ahs played on the bass drum align
with the left hand. Start really slow and make sure you hear and feel
the limbs lining up.